Proper preventative maintenance is crucial in keeping EDM machines running as efficiently and economically as possible. Operators need to check and maintain consumables—such as power feeders, filters and resin—regularly to prevent unstable, inaccurate machining. […]
More sophisticated tooling technologies are always evolving. One advancement that improves efficiency and speed is a hydraulic locking core pull cylinder. By employing this method of actuating a core pull, molders can take advantage of smaller mold bases, […]
At about 95 percent of the time, dampened adapters only fail due to tool crashes. Otherwise dampened tooling will last for many years of use. In fact, a lot of the systems manufactured in the 1980s are still in use today. […]
If your business has never used digital thermography, or if you’ve dabbled with it and weren’t satisfied with the results, or haven’t really kept up with the technology, it’s time to look again with a fresh set of eyes. […]
A number of recent EDM developments offer significant solutions to obstacles facing the moldmaking industry in the millennium. […]
The same general practices of machine tool maintenance, fixturing and rigidity of tool setup recommended for turning apply equally well for milling. Short tool extensions and properly adjusted machine tools are essential to good performance. […]
Most information for turning graphite applies to milling with inserted cutters. Disposable inserts with a 1/64″ or 1/32″ nose radius are most effectively employed for milling graphite. A positive rake insert is recommended. Cutting fluids and/or coolants are not recommended. Adequate and well-maintained fixturing, rigid tool set-up and well-adjusted machine tools always provide superior results. [...]
Disposable inserts with a 1/64- to 1/32-inch nose radius are most effectively employed for turning graphite. A positive rake insert without a chip control groove is preferred. Cutting fluids and/or coolants are not recommended. Adequate and well-maintained fixturing, rigid tool setup and well-adjusted machine tools always provide superior results. When machining long rods and cylinders, [...]
If moldmaking and mold repair are indeed two separate entities the question becomes “What are the specific skill sets required for a mold repair technician?” Unfortunately the answer may be largely influenced by the specific repair environment. That is to say, if the in-house toolroom is fully equipped, the level of repairs may be quite [...]
In this series we will be discussing executive decision-making and how to improve the process, including things like decision speed, reliability, prioritization and risk reduction. The process and principles we will cover work extremely well for high level/executive decision makers, product development teams and sales/marketing managers. These same principles of truly understanding the needs of [...]